New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Aedltu duu SplF1GS, anu mas Deen able
during the past week to attend to all of
the duties of his office, including the
very important one of Misunderstanding in
the East Room. Mr.. Cleveland appears
to enjoy exceedingly these goodna-
tured conferences with the people who
visit the White House and have their
little say to the Chief Magistrate. It is
J pleasant to think Of the reports that
! will be made to the people at home as
to ,"What I told the President
The first State reception for the year
1887 at the White House was held on
Thursday evening. It was very sue
cessful affair, and reflected great credit
upon all concerned The most elabo-
rate preparations in the way of decora-
lions were made. Aside from the
members of the Diplomatic Corps, ar
rayed in their gorgeous uniforms, res
plendent with gold lace, ribbons of bril-
liant colors and innumerable decora-
lions, more than two thousand persons,
all high in official, army and navy life,
were presented to the President. One
OF the noticeable features of the receipt
ion was the display of jewelry, and it is
generally conceded that never before
has there been such display of dia-
monds. Mrs. Senator Stanford fairly
sparkled with precious stones. and it is
said that her diamonds cost upwards of
100000. Mrs. Frank Leslie was an
other lady whose diamonds attracted
attention. The stones which she wore
in her ears were as large as good sized
birds eggs. Perhaps the least said
| about the dressing. the better; at any
rate if the description were as abbre-
Yiated as the dresses themselves, it
would not occupy much space in your
columns. It is safe to predict that had
the Chicago ministers who protested
against the American Opera ballet
been present witnessed the display of
necks, arms, and busts, that they would
have rendered a unanimous verdict to
the effect that the ballet costume was,
comparatively speaking, a very tame
affair indeed. There seemed to be a
rivalry among the ladies present as to
which could wear the least clothing.
without taking cold, and like the display
OF diamonds, it may be Justly said that
No such decollette show was ever before
witnessed in the White House.
Much to the establishment of people
who had expected that there would be
long discussion of the Anti-polygamy
bill in the House of Representatives,
the House substitute for the Edmunds'
bill was passed on Wednesday without
so much as a roll-call being demanded.
The bill as passed makes the lawful
husband or wife Of any person, prose-
cuted for bigamy, or unlawful cobalt
tation, competent witness against the
accused. Provision is also made for
the registration of marriages, and it is
declared to be misdemeanor to violate
such provisions.
At q meeting of the Medical Society
of the District of Columbia, held during
the week, committee was appointed
to consider the question of the best
management of inebriates, and to sug-
gest legislation to that end. The COM
mittee, in its report, says: .sThe ineb-
rate is a public nuisance to be abated.
A man can not do what he likes with
his own: The social compact is pub
lie trust, and society demands protec.
ton from violence and from the deter
ioration of the race. Confne-
ment should be for number of years,
or for an indefinite period. Less than
a year will seldom prove of any bene-
fit The committee recommends that
home for inebriates be built upon q
farm in the neighorhood Of Washington,
and further suggests that the liquor IL
censes should be doubled in price, and
that the revenue derived therefrom be
applied to the maintenance of the inc
briate asylum, thus rendering apparent
the relation between cause and effect.
On Friday last the interior of the
Washington Monument was brilliantly
lighted with seventy five incandescent
electric lights, the object being to test
the lighting apparatus. The monu-
ment will not be regularly lighted until
provision is made by Congress for run
ming the elevator.
It is impossible to say now what may
be done in this Congress towards Rev
enue Reform, but it is quite certain
that the Republicans and the Randall
men are nearing an agreement and ma
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